Typhoon Nida has swept across Southern China , with the city of Guangzhou issuing its first-ever red storm alert and Shenzhen braced for flooding and landslides.

Those living in the storm’s projected path on the mainland were told by the the National Commission for Disaster Reduction to prepare two days’ worth of food and other essentials, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

After making landfall near Shenzhen, the typhoon was expected to churn across the manufacturing centre of Guangdong province, gradually weakening as it moved into the neighbouring Guangxi region.

In Shenzhen, most of the financial hub was shut down, with gale-force winds disrupting hundreds of flights, while low-lying areas were put on flood alert.

More than 150 flights were cancelled, the Airport Authority said, with Cathay Pacific and Dragonair warning none of their flights would be operating until 2pm (1600 AEST) at the earliest. Hundreds of passengers were stranded at the airport and around 325 flights are expected to be rescheduled.